Weight loss is a side effect of fitness. Thank you for visiting and reading. Please feel free to comment, I don't answer very often because I have had my say, and the comments are for you to have yours. Just remember, even if we disagree, I don't require you to be wrong, for me to be correct in my thinking!

The show was interesting and I thought Gary held his own and made his points in the allotted time. I am sure it was edited to make Dr. Oz look good and to fit the time frame, so I am willing to bet that we missed quite a bit. I did find Dr. Oz to be condescending, closed minded and really out of his league when discussing low carbohydrate eating.

What concerned me was the on-line exclusive discussion concerning exercise. Gary Taubes is correct; you do not need to incorporate exercise to lose weight. I will not dispute this fact. If an obese person follows a low carbohydrate eating plan — that person will lose weight. No and, if or buts about it.

However, is that really the best way to accomplish the goal?

More importantly, should weight loss be the singular goal?

The answer to both questions is a resounding no!

In my book, columns that I have written and interviews I have given; I am fond of saying that weight loss is a side effect of fitness. Not because fitness is the way to lose weight, but because the goal is not weight loss — the actual goal is improved physical fitness.

I can’t tell you how many times I am asked about loose skin from losing over one hundred pounds or how can one maintain their weight loss and the big one; I thought once I lost weight I would feel better, but I don’t.

The answer to all of the above is exercise. The problem is the general view of what exactly is exercise.

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Exercise must contain both progressive resistance and endurance exercise. People must stop thinking aerobic or cardiovascular exercise. Those terms limit the scope of thought, the type of exercise and of course, the results.

Of course, prior to engaging in an exercise a complete physical is a must. Once you are cleared, you must actually understand what understand what is meant by moderate exercise.

Moderate exercise is NOT taking a stroll. It isn’t sitting on an exercise bike and reading a magazine. No you actually must do something. You have to move, you have to sweat a little bit and for goodness sake you should NOT be reading, watching television or carrying on a conversation when you should be focusing on the task at hand.

Gary Taubes made the comment that exercising will actually cause a person to eat more by “Working up an appetite.”

To those of us who exercise regularly and follow a low carb eating plan, we can attest that we may have an increase in hunger. However, since low carb eating doesn’t concern itself with overall quantity of food, this is not a big deal. That mindset should only apply to those that follow calorie restricted diets.

The other factor is that when one follow an exercise program that incorporates both progressive resistance training and endurance exercises, that person will actually crave the foods that will promote muscle repair, proteins, that will actually assist in fat loss.

My concern about Mr. Taubes so adamantly opposing exercise is that it will just give the certain folks an excuse not to exercise and enable indolence. And, without exercise, one limits their overall enjoyment of life.

As I have said before; weight loss and fitness are not about living longer; they are about living better.

Physical Culturist and Chiropractor, Dr. Joe Leonardi is the author of the life changing book, “Obesity Undone” and a contributor to NaturallySavvy.com and CarbSmart.com. He is available to appear on any talk radio, internet podcast or television outlet.

He has appeared on 94.3FM’s The David Maderia Show, What’s Weighing You Down, w/Dr. Marilyn Gansel on FTNS radio, Nurture and Nutrition on Blog Talk Radio, Low Carb Conversations with Jimmy Moore and Friends, BlogTalk Radio’s Toni Harris Speaks, Internet Radio: Cathie’s Talking, TV -35′s Storm Politics with Tiffany Cloud, WILK’s The Sue Henry Show, Magic 93′s Frankie In The Morning, WBRE’s PA Live, SSPTV’s News 13, Public Television WVIA’s State of Pennsylvania and Call the Doctor; Entercom’s Outlook on Northeast PA with Shadoe Steele, Citadel Broadcasting’s Sunday Magazine with Brian Hughes, Lisa Davis’ Your Health Radio; Hank Garner’s Podcast, Dr. Robert Su’s Carbohydrates Can Kill Podcast; and the one and only Jimmy Moore’s Livin’ La Vida Low Carb podcast.
Dr. Joe Leonardi also will come and speak to your group; to learn more about his motivational speaking fees and availability contact him at docjoeleonardi@betterlifeseminars.com and check out his website http://www.betterlifeseminars.com.
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************The information contained herin is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or disorder. The posting and videos do not apply to those with an underlying medical or hormonal condition. I advise anyone embarking on a weight loss and fitness plan to have a thorough medical evaluation. You want to be sure that you are physically able to exercise and you don’t have any underlying medical conditions No guarantees are made or to be implied.************

Taubes does not advocate that people refrain from exercise; he merely points out that it does not directly produce weight loss in most people. He acknowledges that there are many health benefits to exercise (and he himself exercises regularly), but weight loss really isn’t one of them.

Welcome to the Power of PIES. I apologize to those coming to this site looking for dessert : ) Instead, the PIES represented here is the powerful combination of Prayer, Imagination, Emotion, and Starting now. Read on, and I promise you will be impacted in a positive way. After all, life is sweet. Enjoy it!